Intern ax-combustion engine and generator



Feb. 5, 1929.

H. F. SCHMIDT INTERNAL COMBUSTTON ENGINE AND GENERATOR Original Filed e 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR l-l-E Schmidt BY a mu WH'NESSES: 5.

ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,340 H. F. SCHMIDT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE AND GENERATOR Original Filed June 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a Z9 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 6 H-Efichrmdi QWQPQ ,M

ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

unirsosrarss lJGLMQ HENRY FQSCHMIDT, OF LANSDQWNE, PENNsYLvANIa iss'ioNoR rojNtis'rI dHoosE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING coMPANY, A CORPORATION or. PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE AND GENERATOR.

Original application filed June 24, 1926, Serial No. 118,257. Dividedand th 1, 1927. Serial oflzaaou.

In my application, Serial No. 118,257, filed June. 24,1926, of which-this application is a division, I have disclosed and ela imed'a polyhedral forni'o'f' internal combustion engine which embodies a prismaticfra'me" 's'uf. rounded by and supporting two-cycle internaleombustion engine meang-t-he latter including'liorizontally'disposed opposed piston type cylinders and vertical cranlC-sha'fts. The frame is formed to provide a'scavengeair supply "chamber from which air isf'supplied tothe engine cylinders for-scavenging purposes In the parent application, the princ pal aspect; of the invention 'isthe .engine means; and, in this applicatiom'tha principal aspectis the relative arrangement of an engine of this character with respect to a generator. While the polyhedral engine is unique from the p'ointiof view that the engine supporting frame may be fornied to provide a scavenge air supply '-'chamber,'=th'e' frame'is peculiarly suitable-as a housing for anjelec'tric generator, as an electricgenerator, from 'a mechanical point of view, is quite simple, the parts lending themselves I verywell to' 'being located in the tubular elcmentojrframe'; and, as the" inlet andoutle t elements for 'af'generator are {merely conductors, very little modification of thehousing construction isre 'quired.- 3 Accordingly-,' it-'is an 'objec-fldf' my present invention to provide'a compact prime mover and generatorj 'organizationi wherein the generator is arranged Within a tubular housing or frame member and-engine means is carried by the tubular member or frame and connected to the generator, whereby a combined unit, with single supporting means, may be provided which requires little'if any more space than an engine of this type.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combined internal combustion engine and generator installation wherein thc'cngine supporting frame cooperates with the generator to provide a scavenging air supply chamher for the engine.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of power plant apparatus made in accordance with my invention; and,

.generatorq -F ig; 2-is'aview, partly'inplan and partly'in section, "taken substantially alongitheline IIII of Fig. 1. 5 I

is s ami filed December Referring-no -to the-drawings'iiio rerdetail, I show :a yertical generator, n10; -a housmg or tubular member -l l; 'telescopica'llytar ranged with respect to the generator, and en'- gme means 12 disposed-about and carried by the tubular housing t member II-, the' leengine meansbeing connected by gearing 13 to the As may be seen fromjFigglythegenerator, at 10, and the engineinczins'12are carried by a base constructionlproviding a: cham ber 15"for the gearing l' 3-, the=base construction-consisting of a'bed or foundation member 16 and an upprhdusing member 17. 4 25" The generator; at 10, consists of vertical stator and rotor elements' l and- :19, respec- 1 tively, the lowerend portion ofnthe' rotor shaft '20: being preferably carried by a: step "bearing =21 0n .-the'sfoundation'; member 16,

lower end by the housing member 17: l The vertical tubular or housing element 11 surrounds the. stator element-L518. 1' An. upper 'cover member 22 cooperates with the. 'upper end of: the tubu lar member t o provide a space for the commutator '23 and the "brushes 24 and to provide a bearing 25 for'ithe .up' er end of the armature shaft 20.. Incidentaliy, I prefer to provide'an ilnpeller eleme'nt 26 on the armature "shaft 20 immediately below .Whil: the stator element is sfipport cdvat its the bearing 25 for: thelpu'rpose of inducing sists of a pluralityof open-ended, horizon- 'tal cylinders 27,,having the ends thereof supported by flanged members 28, and vertical crank'sliafts 29 carried by bearings 30 and connected by rods .31 to opposed pistons 32 in the cylinders 27. The lou 'cr e'nds of the crank shafts 29 extend into the chamber 15 and are connected totooth gears 34., each of the latter being connected to a gear '35 of the armature shaft 20, preferably through the intermediaryof idler gears'36.

Thetubular element 11, not only telescopes about the stator 18of the generator, but also cooperates with the latter to provide osca-vengefair supply 'chamber-B'Z-to which air is supplied by any suitable means, for example,

- by thejulp'ller 26. Air' from the supply and is provided witlrexhaust openings 43,

the latter communicating wit-h exhaust hoods 44 leading to exhaust manifold structures In operation, the inlet and exhaust openings 42 and .43 are covered and uncovered by the opposed piston 3 While I have described the impeller 26 as air-ttans'l'ating means for supplying scavenging air to the chamber 37; such impeller may alsd furnish cooling air to the generator; and, inh latter ev'ent, air after passing through the generator may pass to the scavengingairgsupply chamber. Referring to Fig. 1, I show the upper ends of the stator and rotor freely exposed to the space or chamber supplied with air by the impeller: Air 'may pass between the stator and rotor elements for cooling the latter. The stator is provided with passages 46 so that-cooling air infi y pass to the cha'mher 37. To insure that sutiieient' air may ;be supplied to the chamber 37, Izsh'ow openings 47 affording direct communication Between the chambers 22 and 37; and dampeis 48 may. cooperate with such openings to insure a sufficiency of scavenging air. It is to be understood that, so far as thy invention in its broadest aspect is concerned, this series use of air is not essential,- it being sufficient that the suppers ing frame cooperates with the generator stator to provide ascavenging air supply ehamher'tb which-airis supplied an any suitable mariner;

Froni th fore oing. it will be apparz-mt that. I have provided a very compact form of prime mover generator organization which consists of apolyhedral internal combustion engine arrangement ttlescoping over a gem orator and the engine means being connected h suitable gearing to the rotor element of the generator. In addition to affording sufficient space for the generator, adequate space is left to provide for a scavenge air supply chamber. In view of thetart that. for the power develu iie'd; a polyhedral tvpe of engine is very compact. it will be apparent thatthis form of engine is peculiarly suitable to receive a ireneraflir without the provision of any additional space therefor or withoutthe provision of additional foundation or supporting structure. In other words with the present arrangement, I have pro vided, what might be termed,- a two-in-onc" internal combustion engine and generator organization. It is to be noted however, that while I have shown and described an electrical genorator disposed within the polyhedron de fined by theengine parts; that my invention. in certain of its broad aspects, is not limited to the comhnnation of this particular machine with thepolyhedtal engine. I may substitute, for the generator, any machine, which requires for its operation the greaterporlio'n of the pow-er developed by the engine and which is related to the engine .in substantially the same way as the generator. such. for example, as a pump or a blower. I

While I have shown my inv'cntion in but one form; it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and moditications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore,- that only such limitations shall be plaeedthereupon as are imposed by the priorart, or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

'hat- I claim is:

1. In power plant apparatus, the combination with an electric generator having a stator and a rotor of engine means su'rroimdin the stator and including a plurality of cranIc shafts whose axes are substantially parallel to the rotor axis, and means for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the generator rotor.

2. In power plant apparatus, the combination' of a base construction providing a charm her, a vertically disposed electric generator havin'g stator and rotor elements supported by thebase construction and the rotor element extending into the chamber, a prismatic frame surrounding the stator element, engine means surrounding the frame and carried thereby and including a plurality of vertical crank shafts extending into the chamber, and means arranged in the chamber for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the rotor element of the generator.

2-}. In power plant apparatus, the combination of an electric. generator, engine means surroumling and telescopically arranged with respect to the :{enc1.'a.tor and including a pluralitv of crank shafts. and means for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the generator. 7

In power plant apparatus.- the. combination of a vertically disposed electric generator. a frame surrounding the generator, engine means surrounding the frame and ineluding vertical eranl-z shafts. and means for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the generator.

5. In pow .r plant apparatus. the combination of a vertically disposed electric generator. a frame surounding the generator, engine means disposed about and carried by the frame and including a pli.iralit of vertical crank shafts. and means for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the generator.

6. In a power plant construction,- the combination of an electric generator including stator and i'ot'or-clements, ried by therotor 'e'lemen'tadjacent to one end output readsze its appee-gnd tn 1 *gear'anemben at'its lowerendfia tubularmpa gear inenlbercan of the construction, a frame telescoping over the stator element,'means forsup'portmgthe stator element-and the frame in fixed relative 'o'sitions' e'n' ine: means dis osed about and carried by'the ftame'an'dinclnding a plural- "ity' of crankshaft s e'xt'endingjparallel to: the

rotor axis, "and gearing means coo erating wit'li thecrafilr'shtifts at the same end'of the con'struction as said gear; 'ineinber "forf transf 17. In;pewer p1an pparatus, the combinatioti of a' vrcieanyuispossd generator having 'd r-ivi ng porting ember stlerun'nding th generator, sup ortin m'eaas fogrh 'pnbuiarnamed-and the generhcdrand 'pm'vidinge aha-Inter withal ieaise' ae atsa i sieving e berfengine means (IISPOSGfiiLbOUt and carried by the tubular member and including a plu; rality of vertical crank shafts extending into said chamber, and gearing means for connecting the crank shafts to said driving gear member.

8. In power plant apparatus, the combination of a generator, an engine supporting frame cooperating with the generator to provide a scavenge air supply chamber, internal combustion engine means supported by said frame, means for supplying scavenging air from said chamber to the cylinders of the engine means, means for driving the rotor of the generator from the engine means, and means driven from the generator rotor for supplying air under pressure to said chamber.

9. In power plant apparatus, the combination of a vertically disposed generator, a vertically disposed engine supporting frame cooperating with the generator to provide a scavenge air supply chamber, engine means surrounding and supported by said frame and including horizontally disposed cylinders. means for supplying scavenging air from said chamber to the cylinders, motion transmitting means between the engine means and the generator, and means operated from the generator for supplying air under pressure to said chamber.

10. The combination, with an internal coinliustion engine including a plurality of crank shafts. of a generator. means for transmitting motion from the crank shafts to the generator. and scavenging appara tus for the engine including prcssuredeveloping means driven from the generator.

1]. In power plant apparatus, the eoinhi nation of a generator, internal combustion engine means of the opposed piston and polygon type incmding a plurality of crank shafts, gearing for connectnig the crank shafts to the generator. scavenging apparatus for supplying scavenging air to the cylinders and including a blower having a runner axially aligned with the generator, and means for transmitting motion from the generator to the runner.

12."In a'power generating organization, the combination with a closed prismatic frame structure, of a plurality of opposed- "piston'internal combustion power cylinders disposed transversely across the side faces of the structure and having their pistons coupled to crankshafts arranged along par allel corners of the structure, an electric generator dispo sed'within said framestructure, "means'for driving said generator from-said crank shafts, a fan member carried by the generator shaft'an d ada-pted 'to force' an F therethrough, means for subsequently sup- "plying said'airto said cylinders for-the scaven'gin'g thereof "and means f r-pass'ing a pertion'of the a'ir from said fan member directly "to said eyli'ndersL-j- "5: 131111- a power -"genera ting organiza tion, the combination with a closed prismatic frame structure with its axis substantially vertically disposed, of a plurality of op posed-piston internal combustion power cylinders disposed transversely across the faces thereof and having their pistons coupled to crank shafts arranged along the corners thereof, an electric generator disposed with in said frame structure and having its axis substantially coinciding with the axis thereof, means for driving said generator from said crank shafts, a fan member carried by the generator shaft and adapted to force air therethrough, means for subsequently supplying said air to said cylinders for the scavenging thereof, an adjustable damper means for passing an adjustable portion of the air from said fan member directly to said cylinders.

14. In a power generating organization. the combination of a closed prismatic frame structure, a plurality of open-ended internal combustion power cylinders disposed transversely across the faces of the, structure. crank shafts disposed along parallel corners of said frame structure, opposed pistons in the cylinders and connected to the crank shafts, an electric generator disposed within said frame structure. means for transmitting power from the crank shafts to the generator. means for blowing air through said generator for cooling the latter. and means for thereafter delivering air from the generator to said cylinders for scavenging the latter.

15. In a power generating organizalitm. the combination of a closed prismatic frame structure, a plurality of open-ended internal combustion power cylinders disposed transversely across the side faces of the frame structure, crank shafts disposed at parallel corners of said frame structure, opposed pistons in the cylinders and connected to the crank shafts, an electric generator disposed within said frame structure, means for translll) uniting 111 mm from the crank slnrfits to the generator, means operated by :the generator .eretor to the cylinders for scavenging the latter.

16. In iao-wer plant ,e-waimtus nequ-iring air in its operation, the combination of ,a polyhedral engine, a generator telescopically arranged with respect to the engine, means for transmitting motion f t'omthe engine to the generator, and air translating means driven from-the generator for eupph ing the required-air. 1

17. In power plant apparatus, the combination of a polyhedral engineincluding .a plurality of corner 012.31; shafts,.gearingfor interconnecting the crank shifts, in generator telescopically arranged. with respect to the engine and operatively connected to the gearing, a blower having a runner axially alined with the ,gwuuzeutor, and means for transmitting motion from the genemtor to the runner.

l8. -In power plant ep mretus, the com-bii nation of-engine means embedying a plurality of alternately arranged cylinders and crank shafts, means for supporting the cylinders and crank shafts so as to define a olyheclron with the-crank shafts at parallel corners of the latter, a driven machine me. tending Within the polyhedron and including stationary and rotary elements, the st;- tionery element being supported bysaid supporting means, transmission means for interconnecting the engine crank shafts and means for operativ-elyv eonneeting the rotary element-of the machine to the engine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of November, 1927. I 4

HENRY F. SCHMIDT. 

